Help Your Teen Throw Fun (and Safe) High School Parties

The idea of high school parties often conjures images of outrageous bashes you remember from John Hughes movies or other teen flicks from the ’80s and ’90s. Or, perhaps you recall parties from your own youth and the chaos that may have accompanied them. These memories may scare you into never trusting your teens to throw a party themselves—even one that’s supervised.

Make no mistake: Unsupervised high school parties are a terrible idea, often descending into Sixteen Candles- or American Pie-type anarchy and destruction. However, when properly planned and supervised, with clear rules in place, your teens can throw a party for their friends that is both fun and safe. Here are some tips on how to help them make that happen:
Set Parameters

The first and most important rule you must set for a party of teens: absolutely no alcohol or drugs—period. Some parents believe if they supervise a party, they should allow drinking because they can ensure all the partygoers stay safe, but from a legal, liability, safety and ethical standpoint, this is wrong. Some other parameters you should set include:

Party size: The smaller the party, the easier it will be for you to manage.

By invitation only: Insist that only invited guests will be allowed into the party. Your teens can set the guest list and send the invitations, but they give that list to you before any invite is sent.

A firm finish time: Set a time that the party will end and stick to it. Curfew considerations may come into play, and if guests’ parents are picking them up, they don’t want to be showing up too late.

No leaving and returning: Your teen’s guests are your responsibility from the minute they enter the party until they return home. While some kids may have completely innocent intentions for wanting to leave the party for a while, there is no way for you to know.

Empower Your Teens

Once you set the parameters, hand over the reins to planning the party to your teens. They probably have strong opinions on the party’s theme, food to serve, music to play, decorations and so on. Let your teens take over, with their understanding that they must follow your rules and not disturb the neighbors (i.e., no loud music, especially in the evening).

Communicate with Other Parents

Once your kids have given you the guest list, don’t hesitate to contact other parents to explain your rules and assure them that no alcohol will be served. Also, include your phone number on the invitation so that if parents have any questions or concerns, you can be immediately reached. Besides reinforcing to partygoers that breaking your rules will not be tolerated, communicating with other parents creates an added level of safety—everyone knows where their kids will be and what time the party will end.

Supervise, Don’t Hover

This high school party is your teens’ deal, so you want them to enjoy it without you constantly overseeing them. However, you shouldn’t let the party go unchecked. Strike a balance between smart supervision and not hovering. That said, don’t altogether ignore the party—don’t fall asleep, don’t get caught up in a Netflix binge and forget about the teens in the basement and definitely, don’t leave. Moreover, if you suspect something, take action, even if it’s just pulling your teen aside and asking what’s going on.

Pool (or Lake) Party Concerns

Florida backyards are more likely to have a pool than perhaps any other state, and we get plenty of use out of them almost year-round. (In Minnesota, applies to lakes and cabins.) Naturally, your teens might want to throw a pool party, which can be great fun but also comes with an additional set of safety concerns. More supervision might be needed (depending on how many kids are invited—this is good reason to keep the guest list small), and the energy level of teens, especially boys, can ramp up during a pool party. These aren’t reasons to nix a pool party, but some extra precautions should be taken:

Consider asking other parents to help chaperone. More eyes and ears mean any unsafe behavior will be caught before it gets out of hand.

For younger teens, consider hiring a certified lifeguard (a college student would be perfect for this role).

No glass allowed on the pool deck.

No horseplay allowed. For starters, no throwing others into the pool—if someone isn’t wearing a swimsuit, they should stay dry. Also, no crazy dives, and no jumping from any place other than the side of the pool or the diving board.

Absolutely no booze. One study found that alcohol was found in the system off 44 percent of unintentional drowning victims. Risk of injury also increases—an inebriated teen may think he or she is invincible and try jumping off the garage … into the shallow end, for example.

High school parties can be memorable for teens and their friends, but safety must be the top priority. Our Safe Homes Smart Parties campaign offers helpful resources for parents who want to ensure parties are supervised, in control and fun.